Clovis man faces felony charge after allegedly killing stray cat

CLOVIS, N.M. - A man was charged with felony cruelty to animals after allegedly using a sword to kill a stray cat, police said.

Peter Kuntz, 22, of Clovis told police June 15 that he and his roommate were trying to kill cats in the back yard because they were tired of the animals slipping under the house, police said.

A neighbor, Randa Crownover, told police she heard a "whacking" noise from Kuntz' home in the 2400 block of Sheldon and saw two people beating a cat with a silver object she thought was a golf club, according to a report from the Clovis Police Department.

Crownover told police she approached the two, identified as Kuntz and his roommate, Larry Rissmiller, 22, and asked why they were attacking the cat, the report said. They said they were tired of strays around the house and wanted to kill the animal, the report said. Crownover then called the police.

When police interviewed Rissmiller and Kuntz, Kunz said he had tried to call animal control, but the number wasn't in the phone book, the report said. An officer then looked in the phone book and immediately found the number, the report stated.

Police retrieved a white-handled sword allegedly used to beat the animal, Clovis Police Chief Bill Carey said. It was legal for Kuntz to own the sword, which had a 26-inch blade, Carey said.

The cat was put in a bag and placed in a Dumpster, according to the report.

Kuntz faces a maximum penalty of 1 years in prison, said 9th Judicial District Attorney Randall Harris. Kuntz is out on a $5,000 bond.

Rissmiller, 22, was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and was free on $1,000 bond. He told police he had not wielded the sword.

Globe-News Staff Writer Jessica Raynor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.